Optimum Ethanol-Hexanol Foams for Formulation of Detergents

Abstract

The accurate and speedy characterization of aqueous foams generated by the use of surfactants are critical for the formulation of soaps and detergents. This paper describes details of experimental studies directed towards measurement of foaming properties of mixture of ethanol, hexanol and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). The experimental results are of great relevance with respect to the formulation of detergents, which can be generated by use of alcohol-surfactant mixtures. The foams were generated by the injection of air at a constant flow rate of 5 mL/sec into aqueous mixtures of ethanol, hexanol with sodium lauryl sulfate. The foams were then characterized using a Dynamic Foam Analyzer (Kruss GmbH, Germany). The foamability, stability parameters like foam capacity, RMI 30, were determined and their variation with changes in ethanol, hexanol and SLS amounts added to solution were noted. Model equations for foam capacity and RMI 30 were developed by using the Central Composite Experimental Design (CCD) approach of Response Surface Methodology (RSM), statistically analyzed and validated. The responses obtained in the study were foam capacity (FC) and RMI 30 in mL. Numerical optimization for two different strategies for the responses, were subsequently performed by using Design-Expert Software version 9.0.4.1. The optimum responses FC and RMI 30 were found to be in reasonable agreement with the experimental results.